17 Great Horror Films That Premiered at Cannes and Where to Stream Them

One of Alfred Hitchcock’s final films, “Frenzy” is a master murder-mystery. As a killer who strangles using a necktie terrorizes London, an innocent man accused of the crime has to race to clear his name. Taut and tense, it stands among the horror icon’s best work.

Believe it not, this groovy cult classic first screened at Cannes and is ripe for a rewatch. Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell are a duo for the ages, and while “Evil Dead II” might have a deeper fanbase, the original is still a stunner.

Made infamous by an extended and near-unwatchable rape scene, Gaspar Noé’s second film put him on the map as a divisive auteur to watch. Redefining body horror, this examination of sex and violence will leave even the most seasoned viewers shaken and sickened.

One of Michael Haneke’s finest films, “Caché” is a masterpiece of paranoia and surveillance that resonates deeply in our age of privacy concerns. One man’s life begins to spiral out of control as mysterious videotapes of his behavior start to show up on his doorstep, and solving the mystery leaves a wake of destruction.

This horrifying two-hander has a simple premise: a kind young woman is pregnant, and a crazy lady breaks into her house trying to steal her baby with a sharp pair of scissors. Blood flows everywhere in this tense thriller, which is another great extreme French horror title.

Lars von Trier’s whirlwind tale of a family fractured by the death of their child is stuffed with hallucinations, genital mutilation, a talking fox, and many other distressing oddities. A brilliant meditation on grief, this film is not for the faint of heart.

Arguably Pedro Almodóvar’s most bizarre film, Antonio Banderas stars as a mad scientist experimenting with a new form of skin graft on a woman he’s holding captive. Things get increasingly soapy from there, with grotesque imagery and troubling character choices all around. It’s a jaw-dropping mystery with many layers to unfold.

Fans of camp, look no further: Wacky special effects, bizarre acting choices, and flimsy sets all battle for your attention in this late-career misfire from a horror legend. Better suited for a drinking game than legitimate scares, it’s certainly a sight to behold.

A nuanced and emotional film about a family of cannibals, Jim Mickle’s remake is heavy on dread and fear, all wrapped up in a blazing critique of religion. Recommended for the serious-minded horror buff.

David Robert Mitchell’s “It Follows” is a perfect throwback to ’80s slashers, with a unique twist: The shapeshifting terror pursues its victims after they are marked via sex. You’ll be looking over your shoulder for days to make sure the kindly old woman following you on the sidewalk isn’t ready to strike.

Multiple storylines weave together in this twisted anthology about normal people very suddenly pushed to the brink of madness. From a morbid opening on an airplane to the insane wedding which closes the film, this is a perfect treat for gorehounds with a twisted sense of humor.

This South Korean apocalypse film premiered as a Midnight Screening in 2016, and the “Snowpiercer” meets zombies mix immediately resonated with audiences, making it a global hit. Come for the action, stay for the surprising amount of heart.